Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage

Monitoring of the lower Fraser River has detected approximately 45,000 sockeye entering the Fraser River. Of these, an estimated 12,500 are Early Stuart sockeye. Some will migrate to other portions of the Fraser above Big Bar, including the Nadina, Taseko and Bowron rivers. The remainder will head to other parts of the Fraser watershed, including the Thompson River.

A small number of sockeye have been observed by sonar stations downstream of the slide site, but none upstream. As a result, monitoring crews began seining the Fraser River for sockeye in the Lillooet area on July 22 to apply radio tags. To date, none have been caught using the seine net.
 
Few salmon have arrived at Big Bar landslide: DFO

OTTAWA — Officials with Fisheries and Oceans Canada say extremely high water levels in the Fraser River mean salmon are travelling slowly on their journey to spawning grounds upstream, adding another obstacle to their already precarious return.

Gwil Roberts is the director of the department's response to a landslide discovered north of Lillooet, B.C., last summer that sent 85,000 cubic metres of rock crashing into the river.

He says high water levels have delayed the arrival of salmon at the site of the landslide, where several systems are in place to ensure fish make it past the five-metre waterfall it created.


Roberts says the volume of water in the Fraser River at Hope, B.C., which is downstream of the slide, was recently measured at about 62 per cent above average.

As a result, Roberts says very few salmon have arrived at the slide, while crews have been forced to relocate some of the equipment to ensure fish passage, though everything remains operational.

Michael Crowe, manager of biological programs for the landslide response, says the salmon are using up their energy reserves and heavy sediment in the river can also damage their gills.

"These fish will be impacted in their ability to make it to their natal streams and we will likely see pre-spawn mortality," he said during a briefing on Monday.

"We are well within the very highest water flows experienced there, plus on some specific days, exceeding any flows ever recorded there before," Crowe added.

Last month, officials with Fisheries and Oceans said early runs of sockeye and chinook salmon were devastated last year because they couldn't make it past the slide before it was discovered.

The officials told a House of Commons committee that 99 per cent of early Stuart and 89 per cent of early chinook salmon were lost.
 
Natural passage has been limited at the slide, but 11 sockeye salmon have passed the slide at Big Bar to date with the assistance of the Whooshh system (although there are no current estimates of fallback); discharge levels remain high at the site.
 
Looks like natural passage has resumed with the dropping water. Probably only Chinook?

water below 4300m3/s today. Radio taggged fish passed 40km up big bar on the 23rd, meaning they would have had to pushed up and over roughly by July 20...water was 6,000m3/s. If true, that’s very impressive.
 
Whitebuck said:
It's funny...if they werent complaining about high water they would be blaming water temperature being to high.
Click to expand...
It's not a laughing matter but apparently to you it is. That there tells me something about you.
 
100% not a laughing matter.
Could care less what you think of me.
Great deflection tactic though from the issue not being resolved.

Guess you are still waiting for DFO to make this right....like the interior steelhead and coho?
 
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
July 31 2020

Ongoing onsite operations
This past week, the higher capacity Whooshh system transported hundreds of salmon as increasing numbers of fish arrived at the slide site. All 6 lanes of the Whooshh Passage Portal system are now operational, with 921 salmon successfully transported past the slide as of July 30. An additional 114 were transported by truck from the fish wheel and released back to the Fraser River at French Bar.

The BC River Forecast Centre is predicting the river levels to trend moderately downward in the upcoming days. However, there is another possible rise in water level toward the end of the first week of August. The team is monitoring the situation closely and will adjust its work accordingly. The steady drop in Fraser River flows has resulted in a marked improvement in salmon migration. This week has seen a significant increase in fish near the site.

Update on fish monitoring
Sockeye are finally moving up the Fraser. On July 25, the first 5 sockeye were radio tagged near Lillooet. On that same day, the first sockeye was observed in the fish ladder at Big Bar. Daily salmon count numbers at the Big Bar landslide site can now be found on our website.

Enhancement program update
Over the past week, technicians operating the fish wheel and concrete fish ladder have captured and transported more than 100 salmon to the French Bar adult holding site.

The results of DNA testing conducted at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo has led to 28 of the captured chinook being transferred to the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof. All fish at French Bar and the hatchery in Vanderhoof are doing well. There have been four successful transports in specialize tanks, the most recent on July 30.

The first delivery of approximately 100 Early Stuart sockeye will be transferred to the Cultus Lake Research Lab near Chilliwack on Friday, July 31.

Chinook – Big Bar landslide’s first visitors
As the largest Pacific salmon species, chinook salmon are making headway on their 1,200 km voyage up the Fraser River towards their natal streams. These salmon begin their migration entering the Fraser River system between early April and early September. They often “hold” in their natal river for one to two months prior to spawning between mid-August and early October.

Fraser chinook salmon remain as eggs for one winter, imbedded in gravel on the river bed before developing into alevins and then juvenile fry. After spending a year in freshwater, the juvenile smolts will begin the spring season by migrating towards the ocean. Here, they develop and grow for 3 to 4 years, reaching lengths of 40 to 120 cm. Between the ages of 4 or 5 years, Fraser chinook begin their final journey to spawn. They have only one opportunity to spawn before they die.

The Big Bar landslide has introduced an additional challenge for the chinook whose natal streams are above the slide. Some fish that are unable to cross the slide site may attempt to redistribute to tributaries downstream for spawning. However, prospects for those offspring are challenging, due to the warmer river temperatures relative to the rivers where they were born and to which they are genetically adapted.

Following a prolonged holding time in the river, also known as milling behaviour, chinook that pass the slide site may be more vulnerable to disease and physical damage. Therefore, it is critical for this year’s chinook to move past the slide as easily as possible. Big Bar landslide response operations, such as the winter blasting program and the alternative fish passage systems, are making this rapid movement possible.

The Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed many of the Fraser chinook populations and has designated the stocks upstream of the slide as either endangered or threatened. The Big Bar Landslide Response team remains committed to restoring natural fish passage for chinook and all species that migrate north.

2020-07-31-a.JPG

Big Bar site panorama.


2020-07-31-b.JPG

Fish ladder from the top down.

2020-07-31-c.JPG

Fish tubing and hangers from above.


2020-07-31-d.JPG

Crews collecting salmon from holding tubs at French Bar, in preparation for transport to Vanderhoof.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
 
In-season Data Flow
a) Acoustics
 Qualark: Daily passage estimates have been low but increasing, ~7-8k last 3 days.
 Mission: Daily passage estimates at Mission have been low and steady in the ~4-5k last 3
days.
 Mission passage is generally aligning with test fishery projections.
 Hells Gate index counts have increased and some dead sockeye have been noted in the
area.


f) Observations Throughout the Watershed
 Limited selective Chinook directed fisheries have begun in the Mid Fraser area.
 Helicopter effort overflights reported ~200 sick looking sockeye below Hells Gate and
Alexandria.
 In recent years when water temperatures are high most sick fish have been observed
above Hells Gate. With the high discharge it seems more have been observed below indicating the early arriving fish have likely had difficulty migrating under previous flow conditions.
 
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Ill Give GLG the day off

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
August 7 2020

On this page
Ongoing onsite operations
Larger numbers of salmon are arriving at the Big Bar landslide site as water levels stabilize.

As of August 5, approximately 2,176 salmon have been detected at the Churn Creek sonar station, located 40 km upstream. The increasing numbers of salmon detected at Churn is a positive indicator of successful migration past the barrier.

With the higher capacity Whooshh™ system now in operation, crews are focused on system optimization and other improvements. New filters were installed to reduce sediment in the water supply before it reaches the fine spray misters and other sensitive components. Crews also added mesh and netting to better guide fish movement within the concrete ladder and the steep pass ramp to reduce incidental harm. Other work included constructing walkways and ramps, improving vehicle and equipment access, and upgrading rock fall protection measures.

During the hot Cariboo summer, temperatures at the site have regularly exceeded 40°C. Ensuring crew safety and hydration during the hot weather is a top concern.

Update on fish monitoring
Sockeye have been observed in increasing numbers at the sonar station downstream of the Big Bar landslide, near the ferry. New fish are being counted in the low thousands each day.

August 5, the monitoring team tagged 25 fish, for a total of 283 chinook and 100 sockeye. Enhanced tagging efforts are under way to tag more fish before they enter the Whooshh™ to better understand fish movement above the slide site.

Enhancement program update
On August 2, 133 sockeye were transferred from the French Bar Creek holding facility to the Cultus Lake Research Lab. The previous week, 105 sockeye were transferred to the lab. The majority of the fish are likely Early Stuart sockeye but DNA tests will confirm. The program target is to collect 400 Early Stuart sockeye.

Following DNA testing, 70 chinook have now been transferred to the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof. Fish from eight separate chinook populations in the upper Fraser River are being collected for the hatchery.

Current images of work being done at the landslide site

2020-08-07-a.JPG



Whooshh Passage Portal™ scanner taking detailed measurements of each fish entering the system.


Mesh installation over the steep pass to prevent escape


Sockeye in the holding pool at the top of the concrete fish ladder, waiting to enter the Whooshh™ system or for transport by truck.


 
I like the idea of using 400 Early Stuarts for this program … 400 will ensure many crosses while matrix spawning. The trick will be actual spawning these fish; as mentioned in an earlier post, if the fish being transported to the Cultus Lab have been highly stressed, sexual maturation hormones would be compromised and the fish may not ripen. Hopefully the captured fish are from the later part of the run where the fish may not have been exposed as much to the high water flows.

The good news is the fish culturalists at the Lab charged with this program are probably the best in the world at endangered sockeye husbandry.
 
In-season Data Flow
a) Acoustics
 Qualark: Daily passage estimates have been low but increasing, ~8-9k last 3 days.
 Mission: Daily passage estimates at Mission have been low and steady in the ~6-7k last 3
days.
 Mission passage is generally aligning with test fishery projections.
 Mission estimates are lower than Qualark however Mission assessments are thought to be
more robust at this time.
 Good passage noted in Hells Gate index counts. 11 dead chinook were observed in the
fishway. Sockeye exiting observed in good condition.


Big Bar Rock Slide Update
 Mike Hawkshaw provide a detailed update on BigBar passage and other measurements to-date
 Alfalfa sonar site (~10 km downstream of the slide): Significant salmon targets did not appear to show up until near the end of July.
 Churn Creek sonar site (~40 km upstream of the slide): Passage increased in August likely due to transport and natural passage.
 Beginning to see better passage at Churn as sonar counts climbing as discharge falls (30s, 90, 230,540, 1055). Sonar targets suggest they are still predominately Chinook
 3 Sockeye tags observed at Churn (either Whooshed or natural passage)
 Whooshh: Initial tagging results (July 29th n=11 and July 30th n=20) suggested potential
fall back has led to additional assessment and program refinements.
 Visual confirmation of salmon (Chinook) making it past the drop zone and into green
waters.
 Visual confirmation of Sockeye making it part way up the slide but not yet observed
making it all the way.
f) Observations Throughout the Watershed
 Visual inspection of sockeye retained in the Qualark Gn test fishery was they were in good condition. No indicator of condition issues in catch.
 Recent Helicopter effort overflights reported less sick looking sockeye below Hells Gate to Alexandria relative to earlier in the week.
 Some reports of small numbers of sockeye entering tributaries where they normally would not go which is a signal some fish are having migration issues.
 
Pretty Fing pathtic when Ossoys lake has more sockeye return then all of the fraser. Over 100 gillnets reported by DFO as well seized on the fraser so far this year. Seems like the fat lady is singing.


"The total Sockeye escapement to August 10 is estimated to be 166,500 of which 13,300 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 56,900 are Early Summer run stocks, 91,500 are Summer run stocks and 4,800 Late run stocks. During the Panel call today no changes were made to the current run sizes for the four management groups. Currently the total return of Fraser Sockeye in 2020 is estimated to be approximately 283,000 fish or fewer, which would be a record low return for all cycles."


"We've seen about 350,000 in the Columbia River coming back, of which about 290,000 are Okanagan," Wright explained. "And that's about 190,000 to 200,000 over the Wells Dam which is the last dam on the Columbia before they head up the Okanagan."

At the moment, he estimates 90,000 to 100,000 have made it to Osoyoos Lake, and others have already made their way to the Okanagan Falls dam. "
 
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117765204_3061976687184368_5045548596476120989_o.jpg


Go Fish BC
These adult chinook salmon were transported by truck to our Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof. They were caught via a fish wheel at the Big Bar Slide and transferred to our hatchery after undergoing DNA sampling to determine their natal stream of origin was from the Upper Fraser.
The chinook will be held at our hatchery for a few weeks, until they become ripe. Their eggs and sperm will then be collected and transported to the University of Northern B.C. Quesnel River Research Centre near Likely. The Likely hatchery, which was once a production hatchery for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is being retrofitted to support Upper Fraser chinook salmon populations.
The Big Bar landslide introduced an additional challenge for chinook who spawn in watersheds above the slide and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has assessed many of the Upper Fraser populations as endangered or threatened. The hatchery enhancement program is being done in addition to efforts to restore the natural fish passage in the Fraser River.
Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initative
 
Big Bar Rock Slide Update
 121 sockeye have been radio-tagged below Big Bar.
 51,021 salmon have been counted at the Alfalfa sonar site (~10 km downstream of the
slide).
 4,823 salmon have been transported by the Whooshh to date.
 20,819 salmon have been counted at the Churn Creek sonar site (~40 km upstream of the
slide).
 The sockeye proportion (based on length frequencies) has been on the rise and as of
August 9th was 20% of what was observed at Churn.
 No new sockeye tags have passed as of the last download, however given the volume of
salmon at Churn, sockeye are likely passing the slide naturally.
 Condition of tagged Sockeye is good – some wounds and split fins, but most are in good
shape.


f) Observations Throughout the Watershed
 Visual inspection of > than 200 sockeye last week in the Qualark Gn test fishery was that approximately 10% of the fish had marks or other condition issues. This is not abnormal. It was noted however that a few very sick looking fish were caught that were likely falling back into the net from upstream.
 Recent Helicopter effort overflights are still reported some sick looking sockeye below Hells Gate to Alexandria. These are likely earlier arriving fish that had migration issues earlier in the run.
 Some reports of poor looking Chinook caught in Chinook directed FSC fisheries this last week.
 
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
August 14 2020

Fish attaining natural in-river passage
Over the last week, increasing numbers of salmon have successfully passed the slide site without assistance. As water levels along the Fraser River continue to drop, conditions are improving for natural fish passage. This year, salmon are able to pass the slide site at much higher river volumes compared to 2019, which is the direct result of the successful rock removal and building of the “nature-like" fishway this spring.

As of August 12, approximately 38,761 salmon have moved past the barrier. Preliminary data from the Churn Creek sonar station indicates that the majority of these fish are chinook but sockeye are gaining ground and now represent about 20 per cent. Further analysis is underway to determine the river volumes at which fish can pass naturally.

At this time, 5,568 and 1,527 salmon have been moved past the slide using the Whooshh Passage Portal™ and ‘truck and transport’ respectively.

These alternative transport systems will remain in operation until lower water allows full natural passage for all species.

Ongoing onsite operations
With all systems working together to support fish passage, crews focused on modifications to the Whooshh Passage Portal™, including:

  • building roofs for the air cooler system;
  • constructing an access platform decking so workers can easily reach all parts of the system;
  • lowering the discharge tubes into the Fraser River to accommodate the dropping water levels; and
  • installing a barricade to safeguard fish from escaping the steep pass.
To improve fish transport truck access to the fish wheel operation site, crews completed a road and ramp down to the beach where salmon from the fish wheel are transferred to the tanks.


Enhancement program update
Gitksan, Sta’t’imc, Secwpemc and Sylx First Nation crews continued to lead fish wheel operations onsite. They focused on capturing salmon for radio tag application, emergency enhancement collection and transportation to French Bar Creek for release.

The First Nation crews have transported more than 1,500 salmon over the slide, capturing approximately 90 per cent of Early timed chinook and Early Stuart sockeye needed for the enhancement program. As of this week, the program reached its target of collecting and transporting 400 sockeye to the Cultus Lake Laboratory to support the Early Stuart River Sockeye Emergency Conservation program.

With an increasing number of fish attaining natural passage, and to reduce further stress from handling, fish wheel operations for transport have been suspended for the moment, except for the collection of chinook for the emergency conservation enhancement program.

The commitment of the First Nations from the onset of the emergency response, demonstrated through their responsiveness and collaboration during the operations at Big Bar, continues to move us closer towards the common goal of ensuring salmon make it home to spawn.

Sockeye Salmon – Big Bar’s newest residents
Known for their bright red hue, Fraser sockeye salmon are now arriving at the Big Bar landslide site in large numbers. Similar to their chinook cousins, this year’s sockeye are currently en route to their natal streams to begin spawning. Divided into four main groups based on their migration timing, the Early Stuart, Early Summer, Summer and Late, this species spawns between mid-August and late-October.

Fraser sockeye generally reach maturity and commence their migration home at four years of age. After spending their first winter imbedded in gravel as eggs, the newly hatched juveniles migrate to nearby lakes to feed. Following a year in freshwater, they then return to the ocean where they spend two to three years in the north Pacific. Now weighing between 2.5 and 7 kg and measuring 55 and 60 cm in length, the sockeye begin their migration back to their natal streams. Like all Pacific salmon, sockeye spawn once and then die soon afterward.

In their abundant populations, sockeye salmon play a vital role in the ecosystems within the entire north Pacific. Fraser sockeye provide a valuable source of energy and nutrients to the river ecosystem in British Columbia upon their death. Restoring fish passage at Big Bar in partnership with our First Nations, provincial and community partners is one key step in protecting this critically important species.

2020-08-14-a.JPG

Panoramic view of the Big Bar landslide site.

2020-08-14-b.JPG

Fish using the “nature-like” fishway, completed in April 2020, to move past the barrier.

2020-08-14-c.JPG

Construction of a road down to the Fraser River to allow DFO to safely access the boat transporting fish.

2020-08-14-d.JPG

Roof installation on the Whooshh Passage Portal™ air cooler system.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
 
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